JAMES MOORE FROM GREAT YARMOUTH SENTENCED FOR NEARLY 9,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Great Yarmouth, James Moore, aged 34, was found to have accumulated an alarming collection of nearly 9,000 indecent images of children. The investigation into Moore’s activities was initiated after authorities detected suspicious online behavior originating from his IP address, prompting a police raid on his residence located on Sturdee Avenue in Great Yarmouth in September 2018.

During the raid, law enforcement officers seized a mobile phone and five separate computer hard drives from Moore’s home. The police investigation revealed that Moore had been actively engaged in viewing and downloading illegal material over a period of approximately two years. The cache of images and videos included a disturbing “compilation video” featuring a baby less than a year old, highlighting the severity of the content stored on his devices.

At Norwich Crown Court in August, Moore pleaded guilty to the possession of 8,688 indecent images and 99 films. Prosecutor Andrew Jackson detailed the extent of Moore’s online activities, stating, “He made full and frank admissions to the police that he has an interest in and takes sexual gratification from looking at the material.” Jackson further explained that Moore had used sophisticated methods to conceal his activities, including the use of TOR browsers and ghost programs designed to hide his internet searches and the images he downloaded.

Moore admitted to downloading the illicit material, saving it onto external hard drives, and subsequently deleting the files from his computers to avoid detection. The police found numerous internet searches related to such material on his devices, indicating a sustained pattern of activity over a two-year period. Jackson emphasized that while Moore’s actions involved viewing and storing abuse images, there was no evidence suggesting he sought out children for direct sexual contact. Instead, he was classified as a viewer of abuse material rather than a physical abuser.

In mitigation, defense lawyer Andrew Thompson argued that Moore’s personal life had been significantly impacted by these events. He noted that Moore had lost his job and expressed hope for rehabilitation, stating, “Mr Moore is an entirely appropriate candidate for a diversionary disposal given his conduct during these proceedings and his lack of previous convictions.” Thompson added that Moore was eager to return to a meaningful life and was remorseful for his actions.

However, Judge Katharine Moore described the case as “particularly serious” due to the large volume of images, some depicting children as young as one, three, and five years old. She condemned Moore’s efforts to conceal his activities and emphasized the importance of public safety. The judge sentenced Moore to 11 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Additionally, Moore was ordered to complete the Horizon programme and undertake up to 25 days of rehabilitation, aiming to prevent any future offending and protect the community from similar harm.